The greed of the rich and the privileged is toxic to the growth and existence of the poor and the underprivileged. Throughout the history of mankind there has always been a great divide between the rich and the poor. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that the former minority group of people amass wealth, fortune and fame mainly from the toils and labour of the majority that includes middle class families and others who are classified and looked down as humans living in poverty or below poverty line. Yet, there’s least regard or respect for the poor workers who slog away daily like dogs in order to survive.
Individual prosperity at the expense of social development seems to be an inherent trait amongst our politicians and the rich. This accursed trait should be done away with in order to bring about some semblance and order in the socio-economic value structures of our society. It is also imperative for the middle class citizens (MCC) to raise their voice against those people in the upper echelons of the political, economical and business world who are corrupt. The MCC should come together and become the mouthpiece of the poor and downtrodden people while standing boldly for their own rights.
In the context of Nagaland State, our political leaders seem to have bartered away their integrity and also the rights of the Nagas for personal gain. There’s a great imbalance and disparity among the “haves” and “have-nots”. And the gulf between them appears to be widening. “Corruption” has never raised its ugly head to this level in the political history of the Nagas. It’s no wonder that Nagaland has become infamous and our political leaders have become very well adapted to “Hypocrisy”. In every department and in every aspect of life, there’s a dire need of Reformation…even Revolution, so that every corrupt leader and every hypocrite is strictly dealt with according to the Law of the Land and removed from their money-cushioned posts that serve only their narrow, selfish purpose.
It’s high time we wake up to the reality of our times and unitedly fight against corruption and uproot the self-serving ambitions of the hypocrites who have brought shame instead of glory to the Naga people.
As sad and disheartening as it may sound, the once anointed Motto “Nagaland For Christ” has turned into “Nagaland For Corruption”; and if the glaring Divide between the rich and the poor is not addressed in all seriousness and sincerity at every level then the future of our beloved land and its people would remain grim and at the mercy of the corrupt rich.
A. Anato Swu
Satakha Town, Zunheboto
